I think the Celtic Connections bloke had a point. there are any amount of English outfits who go down fine at English folk festivals, which are generally ring-fenced events preaching to the converted. But put youself outside England for a minute, in front of the mainstream audience who turn out for folk/roots events in a lot of other countries, eg Scotland or Ireland. Let's put together a hypothetical bill of Christy Moore, Dick gaughan, Danu and Shooglenifty for a nice afternoon/evening in a park in Ballybollix or Auchterhoochtie. Now, seriously, which English band/ singer are you going to slip into the middle of that bill to maintain momentum? I am not saying there are no English acts to fill that slot, there are one or two. But not a right lot, let's face it. It's a different market, and not one that the average English folk act is trained to fit in to.